就地取材 (jiù dì qǔ cái) — to use local materials; to draw on available resources on the spot
Definition
A chengyu meaning to use whatever is already on the spot — local materials, people, or resources. Note the literal structure: 就地 ('on the spot') + 取材 ('draw on materials'), so it can be used flexibly, not only for physical materials.
verb
to use local materialsto draw on available resources on the spot
Examples
- 就地取材，。Zhè ge cūn zi jiù dì qǔ cái, yòng zhú zi jiàn le yí zuò qiáo.This village used local materials to build a bridge out of bamboo.
- 就地取材，。Dǎo yǎn jué dìng jiù dì qǔ cái, qǐng dāng dì yǎn yuán lái pāi zhè bù diàn yǐng.The director decided to use local talent and hired local actors for this film.
- 就地取材，。Wǒ men jiù dì qǔ cái, yòng jiù mù tou zuò le yì zhāng zhuō zi.We used materials on hand and made a table from old wood.
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